Betty Jo settled herself in the same armchair in Ian's study as the day before while Dia took a seat on one end of the couch.  Lev hesitated and took the other end.  She shook her head at the drink Ian offered her.  "Edwards is bringing tea for me," she said.  "Unless you think I'm going to need serious fortification?"

"I expect I'm the only one in serious need of Scot's courage so to speak.  And 'no' is your final word?" Ian asked Betty Jo, frowning his displeasure at her.

"I have no desire to sleep alone," she said.

Lev was staring single-mindedly down at the drink in his hand, but his lips were twitching.

"Well, then," Ian finally said, swallowing his drink in one gulp, "we go with option 2."

There was a knock at the door, then Edwards was coming in carrying a tea tray. "I brought you some of that cake you like, Lev," Edwards whispered as he went by the bodyguard.

Ian pretended not to hear it, and waited for Edwards to set the tray up for Betty Jo, leaving her to serve and then bowed his way out. Just before Edwards closed the door, Ian asked, "Did you bring my favorite too?"

Edwards turned red and closed the door with a clunk, making Ian grin.

Betty Jo stifled a giggle and plated some cake for Lev.  She held it out to Ian who was standing and said, "If you wouldn't mind handing it to him?"

"Oh by all means," Ian said walking the short distance to the sofa to hand the plate to Lev who accepted it with aplomb.

"It is quite good," Lev commented. "Cook seems to think I need fattening up."

"It's all the workouts," Dia murmured and took the cup Betty Jo was holding out to her.

Betty Jo sat back with her own and and smiled at Ian.  "And what is option number two?"

"I tie you to the bed post," Ian replied.

"That'll work," Lev agreed.

"I'm a little confused," Dia said.  "If the concern is someone getting in here wouldn't tying her to the bedpost increase the danger?"

Betty Jo grinned. "It's just a ploy for kinky sex," she said and sipped her tea.

"I'm not seriously concerned that anyone can get in, Dia. Far more that someone might try to accost one of you when you are away from home. Betty Jo, what are you plans for the next few days?"

She thought about it for a moment or two.  "Well, the vicar and the Women's Institute tomorrow morning. And then there's the tea party in the afternoon at the Grange that Mrs. Gilbraith is determined to hold to introduce me to what I think she views as the local gentry.  Then the day after Dia and I were planning to drive to Bath for the day.  And perhaps Salisbury in a few days.  Plus there's whatever evening plans we've made.  The dinner at the Fortescues so he can talk to you about sheep grazing, I think it is, and the two fields of rape to the south that you own.  And the reception Friday in town at the embassy you said you wanted to attend, but I didn't think we were staying over."

"After hearing Ned Fortescue extol the joys of sheep I might want to move back to London permanently. Do you actually WANT to go to a tea party?"  Ian asked shaking his head in disbelief.

"I've been meaning to say I deserve combat pay for such duties, Ian," Lev commented after he'd demolished his cake.

"Probably true," Betty Jo said, laughing.  "And no I don't particularly want to go, but I do want those women to donate to the restoration fund and they won't unless I make myself accessible so they can ask questions they know I won't answer.  It's a scratch and sniff event.  Plus, this way they will now direct most, if not all, of the social, civic and charitable matters to me and not directly to you and Titiana will earn her pay."

"And how is it I deserve such kindness, you sacrificing yourself by throwing your body between me and the village?" Ian asked grinning.

She smiled happily.  "I think of it as an investment against possible future considerations.  You'll owe me and I'll think of a way to collect."

"Hmmm," Ian muttered darkly.

"I personally think it has more to do with keeping you away from all the lovely daughters they hope to marry off to you, Ian," Lev put in.

"And there is that aspect of it, too," Betty Jo agreed.  "Though I've also been filing my nails a bit more often these days."

"So, Dia, aren't you glad you've come for a visit. The prospect of delightful company and complex infighting married to the wonders of English village life."

Lev grinned. "Just like Tel Aviv."

"And I'm learning from an expert," Dia said.  "New tactics to take home with me," she said.

"So, not to end the levity, but do you think we need beefing up the security beyond what we have?" Ian asked Lev.

Lev gave it some thought then replied, "I think we've got alarms and spells in place enough. Perhaps a second car for the trip to Bath, only because the traffic can be a bitch and I'd worry about something arranged with that in mind."

"Good idea," Ian agreed.

Betty Jo nodded.  "Okay, I can live with that.  How about you..." she started and then stopped, frowning as the hair on her arms stood up and what felt like a breeze lifted the loose curls on her neck.  She saw that Dia's hair was moving, springing to life like it was filling with static electricity.  "Ian?" she said, her voice changing. "What's going on?"

Dia was on her feet as Betty Jo spoke, her eyes narrowing in concentration, her hands lifting outward, cupped as if waiting for something to hold.

Lev and Ian both were on their feet, Ian testing the magical aspects around them, Lev checking out the psi side of things and also checking in with security.

"Dia?" Ian asked.

She shook her head once, the motion sharp and harsh and didn't answer, as the electricity filling her hair grew, flowing in a crackling river down her arms and into her cupped hands then leapt and arced in the air.  At her feet two cats materialized, long-haired and sooty black with eyes as blue as hers, purring and weaving in and out among her ankles, bringing with them the scent of roses and lilies overlaying the smell of ozone.  Outside the study, through the windows, the sky darkened abruptly, black clouds exploding into being and racing in from the east, on a wind that whistled a high pitched sound.

Thunder crashed overhead and the lightening in Dia's hands blazed in response, jumping towards the bookcase covering the entrance to the workshop, only to fall short and then flare up again, brighter and stronger than the last time.

Ian watched Dia for a moment then motioned for the entrance to the workshop to spring open. Lev had moved to stand between Betty Jo and the lightening that was still arcing and sputtering seeking something.

The thunder sounded again as the workshop opened and lightening, twined to that in Dia's hands hurled itself towards her and the temperature in the room plummeted.  She took a step towards the entrance, the cats keeping pace and then a second.  Her hair became a living, swirling thing, mimicking the motion of the cats, flowing and turning around her, fueled by a fire that was red hot and didn't burn.  In the workshop the silk enclosed leather pouch had lifted off of the shelf it was on floating amid the lightening straining towards Dia.

She took the third step and the thunder sounded again and the lightening outside lit up the room, icy white.   Then it boomed again, deafening, and the lightening streaks in her hands found and met the ones from the workshop.  They exploded phosphorescent bright and blinding, enclosing, containing Dia and the cats completely, sucking the air out of the room and shattering the windows, and stopping time.

Ian had thrown up a bubble of energy around himself, Betty Jo and Lev. Inside they were safe, and moving in slow motion as time was grinding to a halt.

Time that didn't exist went by, second by second, minute by minute as the lightening enclosing Dia consumed her and was consumed by her.  Then the clocks started ticking and the world outside moved again, the clouds dropping sheets of rain that hit the ground only to hiss and steam, drops tap dancing off of the flag stoned garden path.  In the workshop the silk and the pouch were gone, leaving behind a leather bound, hasp-locked book that settled gently to the shelf, the symbols on its cover glowing with the phosphorescent light of the lightening, while the power around Dia melted into her.  As she slid to the ground, the cats still purring, their fur still stroking her skin, the lightening arcs split and died.

The bubble around Ian, Betty Jo and Lev died away. Ian kept a hand on Betty Jo and Lev went over to check on Dia. He put a hand to her neck and felt her strong pulse.  He lifted her up into his arms and laid her on the sofa.

Ian let Betty Jo run to her, and stood looking around at the destruction of his study, and lastly at the two cats that sat near where Lev had laid Dia.

"Well," Ian finally said. "The upside is that it didn't happen at Mrs Gilbraith's tea party or at the Fortescues."

Betty Jo looked around.  "That is a definite plus.  And it looks worse that it is," she said from where she was kneeling next to Dia, holding her hand.  "It's mainly damage to the windows.  You opened the workshop before it took out the bookcase or wainscoting.  Is Edwards coming with fresh tea or do you think we should ring for him?  And I think I'm ready for that scotch now if you're pouring."

Ian poured for all of them, and stood with Lev looking down at Betty Jo holding Dia's hand. Edwards came in, looked around at the destruction and asked, "My Lord?"

"Nothing to worry about, Edwards. Fresh tea for our guest here, if you please."

"Indeed, sir. Is the young lady all right?"

"Yes, I'm sure she'll be right as, uhm, rain quite soon. Oh, and bring... what do you give cats?"

"Milk, sir."

"Two bowls then please, Edwards."

"Right you are sir," Edwards said as he backed out of the room with a bit of a worried glance at the sofa.

Betty Jo smiled at Ian as he handed her a glass.  "What happened?  Do you know?"

"Her package came to life. I confess I'm unsure about the sudden appearance of two familiars. That one confuses me just a bit."

"Why?"

His lips twitched. "Generally speaking it's one familiar per witch."

Betty Jo looked at the cats, one curled up next to Dia on the couch, purring happily, its tail twitching at the tip and then at the other one, who'd taken up a position next to Lev and was rubbing its cheek against his leg, its whole tail swishing back and forth and its purr, if possible, even happier.  "Or warlock?" she said.

Lev made a face. "I don't like cats."

"Warlock. A made up word, I'm afraid. Male witches are still witches. Or mages if they prefer. I had no idea, Lev."

"He, she, it, certainly likes you," Betty Jo said. 

"It'll like Edwards better when he gets here with the milk.  Ah, she's finally waking up," he added, watching as Dia began to regain consciousness.  Lev moved his foot to push the cat away when he thought no one was looking.  The cat meowed and moved back.

Dia opened her eyes and struggled to focus.  As the condition of the room penetrated she moaned, sitting up abruptly and then moaned again, her hand hand holding her head until it stopped swimming.

"No, just lay down, honey," Betty said, pushing her backwards.  "You're fine and the room's fine.  Edwards is bringing fresh tea."

Dia sank back gratefully.  Then she opened her eyes again.  "I'm terribly sorry.  Please tell me no one was hurt," she said.

"No one was hurt here. We'll canvass the village soon enough," Ian replied.  Lev showed the cat his teeth and hissed. 

The cat purred and twitched the tip of his tail, causing Dia to look over at him.  "What's he doing here?"

"I'm paid to be here," Lev replied.

Dia glared at him.  "Not you, the cat.  That's Cele, Elihu's cat."

"Well send him back, wherever he came from," Lev hissed at her. Edwards came in bearing the tea tray and two bowls of milk.  He set it down, put the bowls out for the cats, and began picking up broken tea cups and saucers.

"Leave it Edwards. It's fine."

"But someone might cut themselves," Edwards protested. "The cats!"

Ian made a motion with one hand and the bits of glass, including the shards from the windows, disappeared.

"Well that's certainly easier than vacuuming," Betty Jo said, and poured a cup of tea for Dia.  Then she helped her sit up.  "How are you feeling?"

"Fine," she said, taking the cup.  "It just takes some getting used to, that's all."

"Have you any idea what sort of power you were just infused with?" Ian asked, watching Lev doing his best to ignore the cat.

"I'm not sure," she said, eying Cele.  "But I suspect..." she said, and then closed her eyes for a moment.  Both cats stopped purring and Cele's tail stopped swishing.  A moment later she opened them again.  "Elihu has been...tired...for some time now.  If Cele is here and not with him it suggests he has found the freedom he has sought these last few months.  If that is the case then it is also possible that he send the pouch in anticipation of this.  But why he would do so in such a manner is beyond me."  She looked at Lev, her lips quivering.  "And if that is all true, there is no sending Cele back where he came from."

"I'm sorry about this Elihu but .. Cele can just stay with you then," Lev replied.

"Familiars are a bit like dragons in the respect that they choose who to.. haunt," Ian informed him.

"Haunt?" Betty Jo said.  "I've never heard it put that way, but then Daddy never had one that I know of.

"There you go. See her," Lev said to Cele. "She's magical go pester her." Cele continued cleaning his whiskers of the milk he'd just drunk and ignored him utterly.

"So you were destined to get this pouch?" Ian asked.

"I don't know.  I've never seen or heard of it before.  Elihu was my teacher.  My mother sent me to him.  But he had other students, some much more gifted than I, so I don't understand this."

"But your mother," Betty Jo began and then stopped, looking at her.  "I thought," she tried again, "that she pretty much...well wasn't that involved in bringing you up."

"She was," Dia said.  "Except for magic.  In that arena she was the exact opposite."

"So," Ian said, making himself comfortable in a chair near Betty Jo, "this Elihu was your teacher. And he taught some form of magic, and Cele there, who is currently trying to claw Lev's leg to ribbons was his familiar. And what was in the pouch was his as well?  Perhaps we'd best speak to your mother, since it sounds as if she might know more of this than do you."

"He was a kabbalist, as am I and my mother.  I am only guessing that what was in the pouch was his."

Betty Jo leaned back on her heels.  "You don't know where she is, do you?"

Dia shook her head.  "I never do," she said.

"Ah, I am sorry then for suggesting it," Ian offered. "No cell phone for kabbalistic witches, I dare say. So, are you feeling up to looking to see what just declared itself yours? I'd best not touch it myself, as it seems to be keyed only to you."

"No need to be sorry.  There is a number I can call if I need to and I shall.  Meantime I think I can sustain an examination of the gift."  She swung her feet to the ground.  "But first," she said, and closed her eyes, concentrating for a moment while her cat went still and the windows repaired themselves.  "There, I think that's better."

Betty Jo looked over her shoulder and then stood up.  "Very nice."

"Lev, would you be so good as to lend Dia an arm?" Ian suggested.

Lev frowned but stepped forward to help her up and support her still slightly wobbly feet. "Maybe you should wait awhile."

She shook her head and took a few steps.  "It's like riding a bike," she said.  By the time she reached the workshop she was steadier.  She conjured another square of silk and used it to pick up the book and the returned to the couch.  The symbols still glowed faintly, like sliver glinting in uncertain light.  "These," she said, studying them for a moment, "are very old, pre-christian, I believe.  I'm going to have to look them up.

She frowned at the lock for a moment and then placed a finger directly on it, drawing it diagonally across it, murmuring a word in Hebrew.  She smiled when it clicked open.  "Thank you," she whispered softly and slipped the clasp open and carefully lifted the cover.  Inside was a handwritten, illuminated manuscript, the colors still pristine, the gold leaf unflaked.  "It's Arameic," she said.  "Translated it reads 'The Key of Solomon.'"

"Well, I suppose we should double security then, Lev," Ian said.

"I thought Indiana Jones found that," Lev retorted as he headed out the door to talk to security.

"Smart ass," Ian muttered to his retreating back. "Dia, why would he send it here, when you are at someone else's house, where you are not in control. It seems... Perhaps you should take it home to Israel."

"I don't know.  It's possible he wanted it out of Israel.  But if that is your wish I shall certainly do so."

At Betty Jo's stricken look Ian offered, "No. I'm more than willing to offer you what sanctuary I can. It isn't that. But that power surge will have been noted. And I'm willing to bet that someone will figure out it is indicative of something very much sought for, even if they don't know exactly what it is."

"Could you send it to Daddy until you know more?" Betty suggested.

"I don't imagine Libby would be happy to have it in the house," Dia said gently.  "It's unlikely but possible that that transfer was only the first of a series.  Still the first thing to do is to find someplace to keep it where it isn't accessible nor is it a hazard to you or the house."

"But it will need to be someplace with a substantial security perimeter as well," Ian added.

Lev strode back in then, nodding at Ian. "Security's aware of the situation. They're on alert."

Dia frowned.  "Have you a suggestion?"

"I think you'd best just keep it here. You'll need to study it, so you'll need access. Not to mention backup if necessary. And the cats won't want to be separated," he added, looking down at the two cats sleeping comfortably in his best chair.

"I can at least send the cats home, perhaps, maybe..." she said.  "And I'll call my mother."

"Sounds like a plan," Lev said, frowning at the cats, just as he sneezed.

Cele opened his eyes, looked at him, yawned and swished his tail.  "Are you allergic?" Dia asked.

"If I say yes will that help?" Lev asked hopefully.

"Well, I know a spell I can try.  But even if I send them home, I can't keep them from coming back.  They do what they want to do, Lev.  I'm terribly sorry about all this," Dia said.

He shrugged. "No, it's fine. No skin off my nose. I get paid the same." He dropped into a chair and glowered at the cats.

Ian, watching this hid a grin. "Would you prefer a Doberman?"

"No, actually," Lev replied with dignity.